Backstage at the ICC in Birmingham, Jay Stansfield reflected on another season as Birmingham City’s top scorer and acknowledged a significant shift in his role on the pitch. No longer just a prolific striker, Stansfield has embraced the broader responsibilities demanded by the team.
As the most expensive player in Birmingham City’s history, Stansfield commands attention—and his entrance at the club’s end-of-season awards dinner drew the loudest applause. Fans admire him not only for his goal tally but for his work ethic and style of play, which perfectly capture the spirit the Blues expect from their players.
While Stansfield finished as joint top scorer alongside Marvin Ducksch with 11 goals across all competitions, a closer look reveals a decline in his scoring rate towards the end of the season: nine goals in his first 17 games followed by just two in the last 30. Yet, his contribution extended far beyond scoring, as he adapted to a new role under manager Chris Davies.
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Frequently deployed as a number 10 in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Stansfield stepped into a deeper creative position after the club’s attempts to fill that role with new signings proved less convincing. “It’s a different role and I’m still learning it but confidence comes with that,” he said. “The last six games showed me that confidence coming back, with a lot of help from the gaffer.”
Stansfield admits that the wait to find the net weighed on him, but also highlighted the growth in other aspects of his game. “I had to realise I’m not just a goalscorer—I bring other qualities to the team that can be just as impactful,” he explained.
Crucially, Stansfield has developed a strong connection with fellow forward August Priske over recent weeks—both on and off the pitch. Their budding partnership provided the foundation for a five-match unbeaten run to close the season. “I’m a bit sad the season ended because we were starting to find a good rhythm together. I’m really looking forward to building on that next year,” Stansfield shared.
Both players have contracts that run until 2031, the year Birmingham City plans to debut at their new stadium, The Powerhouse. This long-term vision inspires optimism around their collaboration and the club’s future ambitions.
Stansfield praised Priske’s adaptation to English football and acknowledged the shared pressures of scoring. “The burden doesn’t fall on me alone anymore—August, Marvin, and even others like Kyogo Furuhashi last season are here to score goals. We have amazing wingers and midfielders who add to that threat, which eases the pressure,” he said.
Despite these changes, Stansfield remains committed to his identity as a goal scorer and is determined to improve further. “I want to hit big numbers next season and in the years ahead. I’m still learning and working on my game, which is enjoyable—especially when it’s more than just finishing practice,” he concluded.